The Nigerian Police Service Commission (PSC) has acknowledged the prevalence of serious human rights abuses committed by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in the South-East region of the country.
The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), made this admission on Friday while delivering his goodwill message at the South-East Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security held at Hotel Sunshine in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State.
Argungu stated that the PSC is aware that security agencies’ roadblocks have unfortunately been turned into toll collection points, where travelers are coerced at gunpoint to pay money.
The summit was organized by the Human Rights Institute of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in partnership with South-East Civil Society Organizations.
In his address, Argungu stated, “The Eastern Region has of late become the hotbed of insecurity in the country and the unofficial headquarters of Human Rights violations.
“This is obviously a disturbing but avoidable situation and I sincerely commend the organizers of the programme for bringing the searchlight on this topical national issue.
“I have always identified with the Nigerian Bar Association not just because I am a lawyer but because I believe the Association has a lot of role to play in the sustenance of the nation’s nascent democracy and the protection of the inalienable human and fundamental rights of the citizens.”
He noted that the Commission is growing increasingly uncomfortable with cases of abuse of power by some security personnel assigned to safeguard the region.
Argungu acknowledged the high level of insecurity in the South-East, particularly the unrelenting attacks by radicalized youths, whom he described as masquerading as freedom fighters while attacking their fellow citizens.
However, he strongly emphasized that such insecurity should not serve as a justification for security agencies to engage in corrupt practices.
He stated, “The Commission has continued to observe the corruption and extortion that dots all the roads traversing this region by virtually all the security operatives who are supposed to safeguard the roads and restore unhindered movement of people, goods, and services.
“The roadblocks mounted by these security Agencies have unfortunately turned into toll gates where road users are forced under gunpoint to part with money.”
According to Argungu, the PSC is also fully aware of serious human rights violations by certain rogue police officers in the South-East. Despite repeated warnings from the Commission to refrain from interfering in civil disputes, some officers persist due to financial incentives.
The PSC chairman pointed out that police officers have been explicitly instructed to stay away from civil matters such as land disputes, debt recovery, rent collection, and marital conflicts, as these fall under the jurisdiction of the courts.
He said, “But we have discovered that the allure of filthy money has become their albatross as they have continued to perpetuate this evil act.”
Argungu further explained that some officers deliberately misrepresent civil cases by escalating minor land disputes into threats to life, thus altering the true nature of the issue to justify their involvement.
He continued, “The Commission is also aware that most times, these disgruntled police officers write these petitions for these people they want to extort money from and will later come to the Office to pose as judges trying to resolve matters.”
The PSC chairman issued a strong warning, stating that the Commission will no longer tolerate such grave misconduct. He emphasized that disciplinary actions will now be strictly enforced, leading to the dismissal of corrupt officers who persist in these violations.
He declared, “The Commission hereby warns that it will no longer tolerate this serious act of indiscipline and human rights abuses and will henceforth not hesitate to put its disciplinary processes in motion to see to the dismissal of such errant officers.”
Argungu also vowed that corrupt officers operating in the South-East would be removed, ensuring that the region is freed from unethical security personnel who refuse to operate within legal and professional boundaries.
